Locating the Handmaids of Nazareth?

[HOLYHEARTS]

I know that the Handmaids of Nazareth were disbanded by
the Bishop of the Peoria Diocese. One group (Peoria) is re-
forming in that diocese as Franciscans of the BVM (or: of
Our Lady)....Does anyone info on them? A second group
moved to Steubenville. Any info on them? The third group
did not disband & continues under M. Yvonne in Pittsford,
NY. I am interested primarily in the Preoria group. Thank
you & God Bless!

[Cloisters]

I hadn't heard any of that.

Have you posed this question on Phatmass?

Blessings,
Cloisters

[HOLYHEARTS]

No, I have not posted this anywhere else. I am trying to
contact the approved group in Peoria.... You can contact
me at my email if you want to take up the topic, Gemma.
I guess there is no one here from the Peoria area &/or
Steubenville area....

[HollyDolly]

Gemma posted about them on Phatmass,and I found their address for New York and plan to write them,
They are as you say not listed on the Diocese of Peoria website anymore.Do you know why they were disbanded by the Bishop?
Also,I think there is a diocese of Steubenville ,Ohio,so you may want to contact them. I will try to see what I can find there.
Will go back to Peoria to see if the Franciscans of the BVM or of Our Lady are listed.

[HOLYHEARTS]

The Handmaids of Nazareth were founded in the Peoria Diocese
by M. Yvonne of Pittsford, NY. A year or two ago, they were dis-
banded by the Peoria Diocese....With, permission from Peoria,
one splinter group was supposed to be re-forming under another
name. Another group moved to Steubenville (name?). The 3rd
group continues w/M. Yvonne in Pittsford, NY. Not sure if the
last two are under any the wing of any Bishop....

[HollyDolly]

HOLYHEARTS,I went to the peoria Diocese website,but didn't find
any Franciscans of the BVM listed.I did however find the Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist.
Here is their address:Franciscan Sisters of John the Baptist
1175 Saint Francis Lane,East Peoria,Il.61611-1298
if you go to the www.religiouslife.com website you can see the sisters profile and email them.I may do so.Maybe they were formed out of the Handmaids of Nazareth,but I don't know.

Found I think it was Steubenville Diocese the Carmelite Hermits of Reparation,and in Kentucky,a group called Oblates of the Precious Blood.I'll look them up too.
Wish there was a book you could by listing religious communities in the US that were disbanded or supressed.This book would list the name of the community ,when founded, its works and the reasons for the community dying.

[NewUlm1976_2000]

Originally Posted by HOLYHEARTS

I know that the Handmaids of Nazareth were disbanded by
the Bishop of the Peoria Diocese. One group (Peoria) is re-
forming in that diocese as Franciscans of the BVM (or: of
Our Lady)....Does anyone info on them? A second group
moved to Steubenville. Any info on them? The third group
did not disband & continues under M. Yvonne in Pittsford,
NY. I am interested primarily in the Preoria group. Thank
you & God Bless!

I would write them at their main address which is listed at their web site.

http://home.rochester.rr.com/handmaidsnaz/

[BlestOne]

WHy not just call the Peoria Diocese??? I have always found them very helpful. I love the Peoria Diocese!!!!!

[HOLYHEARTS]

Someone on Phatmass found them:
association of the faithful- Franciscan Sisters of Mary
fsmcharism.net/home.html
They accept older women w/or w/o disabilities; check
them out....

[BarbaraTherese]

According to a Yahoo Group of which I am a member:

http://fsmcharism.net/home.html

Formerly the Handmaids of Nazareth, who split into two groups. One is the Franciscan Sisters of Mary in the Peoria, IL, Diocese, and the other is the Sister Servants of the Holy Family in Steubenville, Ohio.

[BarbaraTherese]

The website makes some interesting reading in that they have (what to me were) new and innovative ideas. They dont say on the website the title of the order, simply that they are in formation.

[Sister MM]

You've found the Peoria group - and yes, we have a different name.

Go to www.fsmcharism.net

God bless you, and may our Lady guide you closer to her Son!

(Anyone else out there interested in us? We could also use a few good teachers in our Texas location.)

Best book to read in preparation for a true vocation: Mary Was Her Life: The Story of a Nun by Sr. Mary Pierre, RSM

[Cloisters]

Originally Posted by Sister MM

You've found the Peoria group - and yes, we have a different name.

Go to www.fsmcharism.net

God bless you, and may our Lady guide you closer to her Son!

(Anyone else out there interested in us? We could also use a few good teachers in our Texas location.)

Best book to read in preparation for a true vocation: Mary Was Her Life: The Story of a Nun by Sr. Mary Pierre, RSM

Dear Sister MM:

If possible, could you please explain to us why the Handmaids of Nazareth split--and why the HN website is still published if they're no longer in existence?

Also--does the Steubenville, OH, group have a website?

TIA, and please pardon if I've offended you in any way.

Blessings,
Cloisters

[Sister MM]

Dear Cloisters,

Please tell me if you are familiar with the canonica process of establishing a community. If you are, that will save a lot of time on the explanation!

The six of us who formed the FSM wanted a legitimate community under a bishop, with an approved set of statutes. Since we formed, another member from the Steubenville group came back to us. We have permission to accept and form new members, and have been very pleased with the progress we have made so far.

If you know of someone who would be interested in us and able to live our charism, please pass on the info!

In Jesus and Mary,
Sister MM

[HollyDolly]

Sister MM,I hope you got the email I sent you.From what you told me,it sounded like the Handmaids of Nazareth were more like a secular institute,than a religious group in that sense.

Nope,can't teach,and would have to retire from my job for the school district(printer),and pay off some bills before I could join anyone.